Flexible heat pump pumping method and related device driven by recovered environmental mechanical energy

Abstract

Flexible heat pump process and related apparatus driven by recycled environmental mechanical energy The method which is the subject of the present invention relates to a method of generating heat and comfort in a flexible material, the flexible material comprising a sealed unit filled with gas, and when a person's or animal's foot is pressed against the ground, or when a tire contacts the road, etc., when pressure is applied to the flexible material, the gas confined in the unit is compressed and expands. The flexible material is preferably made of silicone or other elastic or superelastic elastomer and consists of the following three layers. * A layer having a so-called low-temperature battery whose geometric shape or hardness allows compression before that of a so-called high-temperature battery, * The layer having a so-called high-temperature battery has a geometric shape or hardness that prevents it from being compressed during the compression period of the so-called low-temperature battery, * An intermediate layer between the first two layers including a nozzle having a geometric shape suitable for good gas expansion. These three layers are laminated and assembled in a sealed manner such that each so-called low-temperature unit is connected to a so-called high-temperature unit via one of the nozzles. This method can be implemented in shoe soles to maintain low temperature when walking on a very hot ground or to keep warm on a frozen ground, because these shoe soles are reversible. In each step, the foot compresses the so-called low-temperature chamber, and all the gas is compressed through the nozzle into the so-called high-temperature chamber. The compressed gas is naturally heated according to the laws of thermodynamics. When the foot leaves the ground and there is no more compression, the flexible material recovers its volume by the elasticity of the material, and the so-called low-temperature bubbles suck gas from the so-called high-temperature bubbles, thereby relaxing the gas passing through the nozzle, which naturally cools the gas according to the same law. As long as a person walks or runs, the cycle continues.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for generating heat and cold in a flexible material including a sealed cell filled with gas by compressing and expanding a gas confined within the cell, and related apparatus.

[0002] A preferred use is in shoe soles, which can keep the feet at a cold temperature even when walking on a very hot road or at a warm temperature even on frozen ground.

Background Art

[0003] There are devices used for heating the feet, such as shoe soles or socks, whose resistance is driven by a honeycomb or exothermic chemical substance. These systems do not allow a sufficient heat supply to be maintained for a sufficient time, over 8 hours, for many activities such as workers in refrigerated storages, extreme trail participants, military personnel, etc.

[0004] On the other hand, there are few devices available for refreshing shoe soles. There are actually gel-filled shoe sole devices. These devices are placed in a refrigerator beforehand to store cold and heat energy, but this device is not practical because, on the one hand, the cold and heat energy is initially very strong and may cause burns, and then the effect decreases immediately. On the other hand, the time for maintaining cold and heat energy is very short (several minutes to several tens of minutes). Therefore, it is not suitable for a working day or jogging for more than one hour.

[0005] In Korean Patent Application Publication No. 20160066190, US Patent Application Publication No. 2012018418, or International Publication No. 2005087031, there are actually devices that require the use of Peltier effect components. However, these devices require a significant amount of power because the efficiency of the Peltier effect components is not very good. Therefore, due to the rapid consumption of the honeycomb, it is impossible to cool for more than one hour. Furthermore, these Peltier effect components are typically made of ceramic and are therefore very brittle. Finally, between the weight of these components and the honeycomb, this becomes extremely heavy too quickly in sports shoes, which usually should be lighter.

[0006] As described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2018220739 or as described in Chinese Patent No. 107788617 for better ventilation, there are also devices that use breathable materials to drain water, but these systems do not allow true thermal regulation and significant temperature decrease or increase.

[0007] As described in French Patent Application Publication No. 2958505, there is also a process of ventilating a material (in this case, a shoe) from the outside air, but this is clearly not a cooling or heating process, but simply a process of ventilating the material from the outside air. Therefore, in a very hot outdoor air situation such as in the summer in India (51 °C), the 51 °C air will enter the shoe! It is still far from temperature regulation. In fact, French Patent Application Publication No. 2958505, of course, describes and claims the protection of shoes with bags (large cells), but since this bag is connected to the outside and inside of the shoe, it is not completely waterproof (and it is also necessary to be connected to the outside). This is also confirmed by the fact that in this application, it is not described or claimed that the air is pressurized to realize the principles of thermodynamics, especially heating the air under pressure.

[0008] In French Patent Application Publication No. 1501793, it is also impossible to compress and decompress the air inside the cell. On the contrary, as has been mentioned several times, it describes and requires a shoe sole equipped with a ventilation device. The chamber is open and cannot maintain air pressure due to the weight of a person. Furthermore, since these cells are defined as containing powder that will be dispersed on the foot, the non-sealing property is fundamental.

[0009] Therefore, in French Patent Application Publication No. 2958505 and French Patent Application Publication No. 1501793, since they describe the process of ventilating the material from the outside air, it is impossible to heat or cool independently of the outside air. Therefore, when the outside air is very hot, such as in current India (51°C), 51°C air will enter the shoe! It is impossible to cool the feet with such hot air. Similarly, when the outside air is very cold, such as in winter (-30°C, mountains in Canada...), -30°C air will enter the shoe! It is impossible to heat the feet with such cold air.

[0010] Only processes that use thermodynamic principles, such as those we are reselling in this application, can truly generate heat and cold and provide true comfort over a long period in hot or cold weather (as long as one is walking or running).

[0011] French Patent Application Publication No. 1871095 mentions a thermodynamic method, but since the cell is hollow in the material, making compression difficult, and many other technological innovations have to be made as described later in order to be more effective, its actual application is difficult. Therefore, this application includes an improved patent that relies on French Patent Application Publication No. 1871095.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The method as the subject of the present invention relates to a method for generating heat and a refreshing feeling in a flexible material, the flexible material comprising a sealed honeycomb filled with gas, and when mechanical pressure is applied to the flexible material, such as when a human or animal foot presses on the ground, the gas trapped in the honeycomb is compressed and expands.

[0014] The flexible material is preferably made of silicone or other elastic or super-elastic elastomers such as natural rubber, butyl rubber,... and it consists of the following three layers. * A layer having a so-called low-temperature honeycomb that allows a mechanical compression with a geometry or hardness greater than that of a so-called high-temperature honeycomb. * A layer having a so-called high-temperature honeycomb whose geometry or hardness is such that it is not compressed or only slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of the so-called low-temperature honeycomb. An intermediate layer between the above two layers, including nozzles having a geometry suitable for good gas expansion.

[0015] The three layers are assembled in a sealed manner such that each so-called low-temperature honeycomb is connected to a so-called high-temperature honeycomb via one of the nozzles and all honeycombs are filled with ambient gas during the assembly process.

[0016] Thus, by mechanical compression of the flexible material, the gas is compressed and thus heated from the honeycomb of the low-temperature layer to the honeycomb of the high-temperature layer through the nozzle.

[0017] During mechanical decompression, due to the elasticity of the material, the same gas expands and is cooled towards the honeycomb of the low-temperature layer through the nozzle.

[0018] To optimize the gas expansion phase during mechanical decompression, the nozzle can have a converging or diverging shape, circular, elliptical, or a Laval nozzle, etc.

[0019] [Figure 1] shows the honeycomb before assembly of the intermediate layer (3) including the high-temperature layer (1), the compressed air receiving region, the low-temperature layer (2), the compressed air expansion region, and the nozzle (4). These three layers overlap, allowing each so-called low-temperature honeycomb to be connected to a so-called high-temperature honeycomb via one of the nozzles, as shown in [Figure 2].

[0020] These three layers can be assembled into an airtight structure under atmospheric pressure or pressure, allowing the honeycombs to be filled with gas under pressure or in a pressureless state.

[0021] Sealing is a very important feature. In fact, when using materials with a permeability to gases (such as air) exceeding 20 bar, the compression / expansion cycle results in a slow but gradual air leakage, leading to permanent honeycomb rupture and thus limiting the thermodynamic operation. The generation of heating and cooling is only effective within 1 - 2 hours. For example, to ensure 8 hours of thermodynamic production (one working day), a permeability of less than 4 bar is sufficient, and for operations exceeding 40 hours (e.g., in the case of extreme orbits), a permeability of less than 1 bar is required.

[0022] To prevent the so-called high-temperature honeycombs from being compressed or slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of the so-called low-temperature honeycombs, this can be achieved by adding reinforcing elements inside the honeycombs, or increasing the thickness of the honeycomb walls, or achieving a higher hardness than the so-called low-temperature honeycombs, etc., through specific geometric shapes.

[0023] If the hardness of the so-called high-temperature honeycombs enables them to remain uncompressed or only slightly compressed during the mechanical compression of the so-called low-temperature honeycombs, this hardness is at least 10 Shore A greater than that of the latter.

[0024] Therefore, a flexible material can be used as the sole of the shoe to maintain a low temperature, such as when a person is walking on a hot ground. At each step, the foot compresses the so-called low-temperature chambers, and the gas from these chambers is pushed through the nozzles towards the so-called high-temperature chambers. Thus, the high-temperature chambers act as an insulating shell, and their gas is heated during compression.

[0025] When the foot leaves the ground and there is no longer mechanical compression, the flexible material restores its volume due to the elasticity of the material, inhales the gas through the nozzles, thereby relaxing the gas and cooling it.

[0026] The hardness value of the so-called low-temperature honeycomb is 10 to 30 Shore A, and the hardness value of the so-called high-temperature honeycomb is 20 to 50 Shore A. When the two layers have the same hardness, it should be noted that the gas compressed by the pressure of the foot is evenly distributed between the incompletely compressed chambers of the two layers, and the heating is evenly distributed. Therefore, during the expansion process, thermodynamics shows that the temperature returns to the initial value, and thus, high-temperature and low-temperature surfaces cannot be obtained.

[0027] Therefore, whether it is the difference in hardness between the two layers or the difference in shape, due to the difference in compressibility between the two types of chambers, the so-called low-temperature chambers are deformed by the pressure of the foot, and as a result, all the compressed gas enters the so-called high-temperature chambers, while the high-temperature chambers do not actually deform. Therefore, the compressed gas is naturally heated according to the laws of thermodynamics and exists entirely within the so-called thermal honeycomb. Therefore, the so-called thermal honeycomb is at a higher temperature than the so-called low-temperature honeycomb.

[0028] Elastic materials such as silicone resins do not have significant electrical conductivity. Therefore, the chambers may not be able to transfer sufficient heat or cold to the feet, and they function as heat-insulating shells without exchanging with the outside. Therefore, in order to ensure sufficient heat insulation and separation of heat flow, it is preferable to increase the thermal conductivity of the high-temperature and low-temperature layers by adding powder metal (such as copper) or diamond powder to the elastomer, except for the central part including the nozzle.

[0029] [Figures 2] to [Figure 5] show cross-sectional views of a device intended to be arranged, for example, as a sole of a shoe having so-called low-temperature holes in contact with the foot. Example of air operation:

[0030] [Figure 2] shows that the flexible honeycomb material is in a stationary state, and the gas is evenly distributed in the honeycomb at temperature Ta and pressure Pa. The two types of honeycombs and nozzles are distinguished.

[0031] [Fig. 3] shows that all the air (7) enters the latter because pressure such as the pressure of the foot indicated by the arrow (5) on the floor (6) is applied to the flexible material, and the so-called low-temperature honeycomb is more compressible than the so-called high-temperature honeycomb.

[0032] [Fig. 4] Then, the gas is compressed to pressure Pi (depending on the applied pressure, i.e., about 2 bar for equal-volume honeycombs), and thus heated to temperature Ti according to the laws of thermodynamics. Therefore, the temperature Ti of the gas is, (Equation 1) Ta*(Pi / Pa)(γ - 1) / γ equal to. Among these, γ is the adiabatic constant of the gas (1.4 for air at 293°K), and when Ta is 293°K, it is 376°K. Then, the heat of the gas dissipates in the material to the foot or the floor (or the shoe).

[0033] [Fig. 5] shows the material during pressure release (when the foot is off the ground). The elasticity of the material restores the shape of the chamber, and the force is represented by the arrow (8). The pressurized gas at temperature Tf leaves the so-called high-temperature honeycomb and expands in the so-called low-temperature honeycomb through the nozzle, thereby cooling to reach temperature Tc. (Equation 2) Tf×(Pa / Pi)(γ - 1) / γ That is, it is 285°K, which is 8°K lower than the initial temperature Ta.

[0034] This is actually a thermodynamic process that generates cold and heat in the sole of the shoe, and it is claimed that it occurs in the same way as in an air conditioner that uses a Carnot cycle (compression / expansion) in the so-called high-temperature chamber (compression zone), the so-called low-temperature chamber (expansion zone), and the compressor (foot). The innovative feature is that the loop is made of a flexible material that can be compressed and return to its initial shape by its elasticity.

[0035] According to another configuration, a flexible material can be used as the heating device. To do this, simply invert the sole of the shoe so that the so-called hot chamber comes into contact with the foot. Thus, the heat generated during the compression process will come into contact with the foot, while the cold layer will come into contact with the bottom of the shoe.

[0036] The flexibility, elasticity, or superelastic (and thus highly deformable) properties of the material are important because the weight of a person causes the deformation of the flexible material and because the material quickly recovers its initial shape after the pressure is released.

[0037] Thus, the size of the chamber can be determined based on the weight of a person and the size of the shoe so that the pressure is sufficient to properly compress the so-called cold chamber.

[0038] Preferably, the chamber has to be embossed to minimize the surrounding material (hollow chambers in the material are more difficult to compress by the foot).

[0039] The volume ratio between the cold honeycomb and the hot honeycomb is also important. In fact, when they have the same volume, during the complete mechanical compression process in the cold chamber, all the gas in the hot chamber is at a pressure of 2 bar corresponding to an air temperature rise of about 83 °C.

[0040] On the other hand, when the volume of the so-called cold chamber is twice the volume of the hot chamber, the pressure obtained during the compression process is 3 bar, the air temperature rises by about 120 °C, and better heating of the foot is possible.

[0041] The gas contained in the cell may simply be air, but to achieve higher efficiency, it is advantageous to use a gas with a higher adiabatic constant γ, such as a monoatomic gas (e.g., argon) or a polyatomic gas (e.g., CO2), and in some cases (to utilize the latent heat of vaporization of water), a gas with a humidity of more than 20%.

[0042] According to another preferred configuration, the material and shape of the cell can be adapted to the form of household animals such as cats and dogs, especially rescue dogs, which often burn their paw pads when walking on a sunny road.

[0043] According to another configuration, this porous flexible material can be used as a carpet in public places or enterprises with frequent human traffic, so that the pressure of a large number of feet can achieve temperature regulation.

[0044] According to another configuration, this porous flexible material can be used in tires to achieve continuous cooling. This is even more meaningful because electric vehicles trying to replace internal combustion engine vehicles are heavier, have more torque, and thus their tires are more likely to be heated.

[0045] In this case, it is advantageous to group the cells of the "high-temperature" layer to form the actual tire chamber, and the cells of the "low-temperature" layer are arranged around the tire, where they will undergo compression and expansion cycles when the vehicle is running. However, in this case, it is preferred that the cells are hollow, because the pressure applied by the vehicle is much greater than the pressure applied by the foot.

[0046] According to another configuration, this porous flexible material can be used in peristaltic pumps. The cells can be arranged around the elastic material tube responsible for transportation, and the fluid pumped by the pump can be cooled or heated.

Claims

1. A method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material, comprising: - the material having three layers, namely:

1. a layer provided with so-called low-temperature compressible cells (2); 2. a layer provided with so-called high-temperature cells having lower compressibility than the previous ones (1); 3. an intermediate layer disposed between the two preceding layers and provided with nozzles (1); - the cells being lifted to allow easier mechanical compression and return to the initial shape; - the three layers being assembled in a sealed manner such that each so-called low-temperature cell (2) communicates with a so-called high-temperature cell (1) via one of the nozzles and all the cells are filled with ambient gas during assembly; - mechanical compression of the flexible material causing compression, and thus heating, of the gas from the compressible cells of the low-temperature layer (2) towards the cells of the high-temperature layer (1) that are not compressed or hardly compressed via the nozzles; - during mechanical decompression, the same gas, which is substantially present throughout the compressed high-temperature cells (1), expands and is thus cooled towards the cells of the low-temperature layer (2) that recover their shape due to the elasticity of the material through the nozzles. A method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material, characterized by the above.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing gas, and the cells of the high-temperature layer (1) intended to store the gas during mechanical compression of the material are made more rigid by the appropriate geometric shape of the cells and reinforcing materials so as to have lower compressibility than those of the low-temperature layer (2) intended to collect the same gas during decompression of the material.

3. ​ The method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing a gas, and of these, the cells of the high-temperature layer (1) intended to store the gas during mechanical compression of the material are made more rigid by a higher material hardness than the cells of the low-temperature layer (2) intended to collect the same gas during decompression of the material, such that the cells of the high-temperature layer (1) are less compressible than the cells of the low-temperature layer (2).

4. The method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material comprises a high-temperature layer (1) and a low-temperature layer (2) whose thermal conductivity is increased by adding a powder with high thermal conductivity to the material, and an intermediate layer (3) provided with nozzles having low thermal conductivity.

5. The method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing air, CO₂ or argon.

6. The method for generating heat and cold in a flexible and elastic material according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the material has impermeable cells (1) and (2) containing moist air, CO₂ or argon.

7. The device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible and elastic material provided with sealed cells (1) and (2) containing a gas has the shape of a sole arranged inside a shoe, and in order to keep the foot cool despite a hot ground, the low-temperature layer (2) contacts the foot and the high-temperature layer (1) is on the sole side, or in order to keep the foot warm despite a cold ground, the high-temperature layer (1) contacts the foot and the low-temperature layer (2) is on the sole side.

8. The device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible and elastic material provided with sealed cells (1) and (2) containing a gas has the shape of a carpet arranged on the ground in a place with a large number of passers-by such as a public facility or a company, and as a result, the pressure of a large number of feet provides temperature regulation.

9. The flexible and elastic material provided with the sealed cells (1) and (2) containing gas is arranged around a flexible tube that enables a peristaltic pump to thermally regulate the fluid during its transfer. An apparatus for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

10. The flexible and elastic material provided with the sealed cells (1) and (2) containing gas is arranged on a vehicle tire, and the high-temperature layer inside the tire stores the gas during mechanical compression of the material when the vehicle moves, and the low-temperature layer around the tire expands the same gas during decompression of the material, thus cooling the tire. An apparatus for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

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